Yoke for draft-gears.



w. s. sensor-105a.

YOKE FOR DRAFT GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED wLv 2.1911.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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fzzo azzii zn WM/M W. S. SCHROEDER.

YOKE FOR DRAFT GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I91!- 1256 268. Patented Feb. 12,1918

3 SHEETS-SHEEI' 2.

W. S. SCHROEDER. {OKE FOR DRAFT GEARS. APPLICATION mm sun 2,1911.

1 ,256,268. Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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FFCE.

WILLIAM S. SCHROEDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES A. SCHROYER, 01? OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

YOKE FOR DRAFT- GEARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,055.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. SCHROEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Austin, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Yokes for Draft-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to yokes for draft gears and has for its object broadly the provision of a yoke adapted to permit the removal and positioning of a draw-bar without'moving the yoke in any particular from its normal location in the draft rigging.

Prior to my invention it has been generally necessary to move all or a large part of the yoke out of its normal position to permit removal of the draw-bar for repair, and when the parts are first assembled the construction has usually required that the draw-bar and yoke be first connected and then positioned in a draft gear or rigging as a single large or cumbersome whole. Attempt has been made to accomplish the purpose already stated but this has resulted in the inclusion of numerous bolts, the nuts of which sometimes work loose and result in the disconnection of the butt from the yoke.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a yoke for a drawbar in which the draw-bar may be inserted and removed without disturbing the normal position of the yoke and this without the provision of any delicate or insecure holding means or devices.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a yoke possessing these and other advantages, which will be of simple and economic construction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a yoke .of unusually strong and sturdy construction and not likely to require frequent or expensive repair.

Qther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description .vhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

On the drawing,

Figure 1 is a section through a draft gear showing a yoke embodying my inyention in posltion;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

b 11 ig. 3 is a perspective view of the yoke 1 1g. 4 is a perspective view of one form of filler block adapted for use in connection therewith;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of llcey adapted for use in connection therewit 1;

Fig. 6 is a different form of key adapted {o be substituted for the key shown in 1g. 5;

Fig. 7 is a filler block adapted to substitute for the filler block shown in Fig. 4 when the key shown in Fig. 5 is used;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showin the arrangement with the filler block and key of Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through the yoke with the filler block and key of Figs. 4 and 5 (taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 10); i

Fig. 10 is a transverse section showing the means of inserting the key (taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9);

Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 9 with the key and filler block shown in Figs. 6 ant} 7 (taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1:2) an Fig. 12 is a section similar to Fig. 10 (taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11).

For the purpose of illustrating my invention 1 have shown in the drawing a portion of a draft gear comprising a sill 15, channel iron 16 to which are fastened the usual cheek plates 17. The yoke for the draw-bar, generally indicated at 18 in Fig. 1, is provided with a head 19 into which the butt of the draw-bar 21 is adapted for insertion from the front. 1

The yoke body shown more particularly in Fig. 3 is of rectangular form having side walls 22 and 23, a top wall 21 and a floor or bottom wall 25. A shoulder 26 is providcd at the top of the yoke and extends down in position to be engaged behind the butt 27 of the draw-bar. The lower face of this shoulder is a suliicient distance above the floor to permit the butt 27 to be inserted from the front and the draw-bar butt is then elevated until its upper forward shoulder 28 rests behind the shoulder 21.

It is intended .in accordance with my present invention that a filler block be positioned beneath the butt, which filler block 51$ also insertible from the front. The yoke r s this body shown on the drawing is adapted to receive the filler blocks of two slightly differing forms, but interchangeable, these forms being indicated at 29 in Fig. 4 and 31 in Fig. 7. A key is provided to form the lower shoulder of the yoke against which the lower shoulder 32 of the draw-bar butt may be engaged. As with the filler blocks, two forms of keys may be used with the present head, one shown at 33 in Fig. 5 and the other at 34 in Fig. 6.

Considering first the construction when the filler block 29 and key 33 are used, (in this connection reference being had to Figs. 3, 9 and 10), an opening or slot 35 is provided through the wall 22 and this slot is v substantially of the shape of one end 36 of the key. The opening; is located a substantial distance above the floor 25 and in wardly of it thefioor slopes away at 37 for a purpose which will be presently described. An opening 38 is provided in the opposite side wall 23, the top 39 of this opening being substantially on a line with the upper face of the opening 35. The opening 33, however, extends to the lower edge of the inclined part 37 of the floor so that when the key is inserted it may be first moved up on an inclined line until one end engages in the opening; 35. The other end 41 of the key may then be elevated until the key stands in a horizontal position and the positioning of the key finished by pushing it straight across in a horizontal direction. The sloping portion of the floor permits the angular movement. of the key Cit ust described.

Extending down beneath the key and near the end ll is a shoulder 42, which is adapted to rest upon the floor or rather upon a shelf or shoulder 43 provided in the floor. The filler block 29 is of rectangular shape having a slightly rounded side 4 After the butt of the draw-bar has been positioned in the head of the yoke, this filler block is inserted beneath it raising it to the elevated position desired and the key then inserted in the manner already described.

The key has a part 45 which extends down in front of the filler block and holds it against outward movement. 7

Two cotter pin receiving lugs 46 extend out on each side of the opening 38 and an aperture 47 is provided tl-iroupgh the tail 48 of the key 33 in which the cotter pin, indicated at 49, may be inserted. 1

The filler block and key shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be used and substituted for the block and key shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as already described. The key shown in Fig. 6 is like the key shown in Fig. 5 except that the part 45 is only of suiiicient length to extend through the wall 35, as indicated at 51, and the tail 52 is thinner as it requires no cotter pin to hold it in place.

masses The filler block 31 is longer than the tiller block 29 and is inserted after the key 3% is in position. The key 3% is positioned exactly as was the key 33, and the block 31 goes in under it supporting it above the floor. A bolt 53 is block working out.

The action of tlfe two keys, which is substantially identical, is shown in Figs. 10 and 12, which also illustrate the method of removing and inserting the key when the yoke is disposed in the draft gear with the head between the cheek plates 17. The keys have enough side movement in a horizontal plane to permit them to be brought to the inclined position shown in dotted lines and they may thereafter be slid down out of position.

In order that the filler blocks may be readily removed and while still bearing all or a part of the weight of the butt of the draw-bar, I provide two openings 55 and 56 through the floor of the head, and in the filler blocks themselves I provide recesses or holes 57 in which the end of a crow-bar or other prying tool may be inserted to pr them toward the open front of the hea The tool may be successively engaged in the holes 57 of the filler blocks and successively engaged also through the openings-55 and 56.

It. will be noted that .the slot 35, which is the slot located above the floor is of l. form and the ends of both keys are formed accordingly. Each key is provided with a downwardly extending leg at the other end so that both ends of the keys. have projections extending downwardly where they engage in the slots. These projections serve to restrain any turning action or tendency the key might otherwise have. It will also be noted thatthe filler blocks in each instance present a surface for contact with butt of the draw-bar of superficial areas equal to or greater than the presented butt face, thereby distributing the wear and greatly prolonging the life of the structure.

The parts are so constructed that the filler blccks lift the butt of the draw-bar into a position to slide rearwardly upon the lower arm of the yoke and to this end it will be noted that back of the filler blocks this lower arm is raised to bring its upper surface substantially in the plane ,of the upper. plane of the tiller block, such construction permitting the yoke to remain stationary in the draft rigging and the draw-bar to have a movement relative tp the yoke in bull'- ing'.

It isthought that the inveirtion and many "to provided extending through a bolt hole 54 to prevent the filler of its attendant advantages wi l beunder.

stood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and ara draw-bar may be inserted from the front and provided with a shoulder at its top behind which the butt of a draw-bar may engage, filler block also insertible from the front and beneath the butt of a draw-barto hold the same elevated and in engagement with said shoulder, and a key insertible from'the side and at an angle and liftable to horizontal position to provide a shoulder at the bottom'of said head behind which said butt of the draw-bar may engage.

2. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head into which the butt of a draw-bar may be inserted from the front and having a shoulder at its top behind which the butt ofa draw-bar may engage and having also slots or openings through its side walls near their bottom, and a key insertible through said holes or slots and slidable at an angle and movable to horizontal position to form a shoulder at the bottom in front of the butt of said draw-bar.

3. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head into which the butt of a draw-bar may be inserted from the front, and a key for holding said butt in place insertible from the side first in inclined and subsequently in horizontal position. v

4. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head into which the butt of a draw-bar may be inserted from the front, and a key for hold ng said-butt in place insertible from the sidefirst in inclined and subsequently in horizontal position, said key when in final position resting upon the floor of said head.

5. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head having a shoulder at its top and openings in its sides near the bottom and adapted to receive the butt of a draw-bar through the front, a key insertible through said openings from the side and first in inclined position and subsequently in horizontal position to form a shoulder for said butt at the bottom of said head, and means for holding said key in elevated horizontal position.

6. In a draft gear, the combination of cheek plates and yoke having a head ositioncd between saidcheek plates and a apted to receive the butt of a draw-bar from the front, and having a shoulder at its top behind which said butt may engage, and a key insertible through the side of head to provide a shoulder at the bottom thereof behind which said'butt may engage, said key being insertible in an inclined position to clear an adjacent cheek plate and thereafter movable upward into horizontal position between said cheek plates and inwardly across said head.

7. The combination of a draft rigging having cheek plates, a yoke for a draw-bar having a head mounted between said cheek plates, and a key normally disposed between said check plates and holding said draw-bar in )osition, said key being movable horizon- .tal

downwardly at an incline beneath a. cheek y to adjacent the cheek plates and then plate to remove said key.

8. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head adapted to receive the butt of a drawbar inserted from the front, and having a shoulder at its top behind which said butt may engage, a filler block positione from the front and beneath said butt, the our of said head having openings to permit the inscrtion of a tool to pry said filler block out from beneath to remove said butt.

9. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head into which the butt of a draw-bar may be inserted from the front, and having a key receiving opening at one side above the floor and a larger key receiving opening at the other side extending to the floor, and a key adapted for insertlon in the front of said butt and positioned with one end resting in the opening above the floor of the head, and the other end resting on the floor. 10. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head into which the butt of a draw-bar may be inserted from the front, and having a key receiving opening at one side above the floor and a larger key receiving opening at the other side extending to the floor, and a key adapted for insertion in the front of said butt and positioned with one end resting in theopening above the floor of the head, and the other end restin on the floor, and cotter pin receiving lugs or holding said key in place.

11. A yoke for a draft gear, comprising a head into which the butt of a draw-bar may be inserted from the front and having a shoulder at its top for engagement with said butt, and a key insertible from the side and engaging appropriately located slots in said head, said key having downwardly extending projections in said slots to prevent turning under the action .of the draw-bar. WILLIAM S. SCHROEDER. 

